$3,300 Main Event Day 1a | 2024 Merit Poker Western Series

01-20-2024 20:40 UTC+2

Lian Rockets Lykov to the Exit

David Salituro

Level 8 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

Tahsin Cankurtaranli raised to 4,000 under the gun before Maxim Lykov three-bet to 12,000 on the button. Xiang Lian then four-bet to 28,500 in the big blind.

Cankurtaranli folded, but Lykov moved all in for around 90,000 and Lian snap-called.

Maxim Lykov: A♠K♥
Xiang Lian: A♥A♦

Lykov was already up from his seat and walking toward the exit soon after Lian turned over his aces. The board ran out 5♣6♣8♣10♥2♦ and Lian took the pot to seal Lykov's bustout.

Player	Chips	Progress
Xiang Lian	570,000 190,000	190,000
Tahsin Cankurtaranli	215,000 15,000	15,000
Maxim Lykov	Busted

Tags: Maxim Lykov Xiang Lian Tahsin Cankurtaranli

01-20-2024 20:48 UTC+2

Player	Chips	Progress
Michel Habib	630,000 230,000	230,000
Mustafa Ercan	620,000 360,000	360,000
Dmitry Yurasov	450,000 350,000	350,000

Antoine Hasbani	390,000 80,000	80,000
Bartlomiej Swieboda	380,000 80,000	80,000
Ryan Plant	370,000 -40,000	-40,000
Ilia Korliakov	350,000 -80,000	-80,000
Dean Hutchison	350,000 120,000	120,000
Frederico Senno	320,000 30,000	30,000
Roman Gadzhiev	280,000
Fabio Peluso	260,000 50,000	50,000

Aziz Efe	250,000 150,000	150,000
Can Miral	230,000 70,000	70,000
Maxime Chilaud	230,000 10,000	10,000
Peng Yang	220,000 -5,000	-5,000
Matthew Davenport	200,000 200,000	200,000
Roman Hrabec	180,000 70,000	70,000

Benjamin Hamnett	175,000 95,000	95,000

Kacper Pyzara	130,000 20,000	20,000
Nina Krasilnikova	110,000

Final Break of the Night

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David Salituro

Level 8 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

Players are now on the last 15-minute break of Day 1a.

There is one more level left to play tonight before players bag up their chips. The tournament clock currently shows 185 total entries, with 87 players remaining.

Level: 9

Blinds: 1,000/2,500

Ante: 2,500

01-20-2024 21:05 UTC+2

Sibgatova Survives a Flip Against Krasilnikova

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David Salituro

Level 9 : Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante

Alisa Sibgatova was all in for around 60,000 from middle position and up against Nina Krasilnikova in the small blind.

Alisa Sibgatova: 5♣5♦
Nina Krasilnikova: A♣J♦

Sibgatova came out on the right side of this coin flip following the 10♠2♠2♣10♣3♥ board as she doubled up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Alisa Sibgatova	120,000 35,000	35,000
Nina Krasilnikova	50,000 -60,000	-60,000

Tags: Alisa Sibgatova Nina Krasilnikova

01-20-2024 21:15 UTC+2

Yang Picks The Wrong Times to Shove on Hamnett

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David Salituro

Level 9 : Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante

Heads-up on a flop of 10♣9♠4♠, Benjamin Hamnett bet 13,000 from the button before Peng Yang raised to 46,500 in early position.

Hamnett called and the 7♠ fell on the turn. Yang then moved all in and Hamnett snap-called for his last 108,000. Yang could only show 6♥4♥ for a pair of fours, while Hamnett turned over 10♠10♥ for top set.

The river was the A♦ and Hamnett doubled up, leaving Yang on an extreme short stack near the end of the night.

Player	Chips	Progress
Benjamin Hamnett	310,000 135,000	135,000

Peng Yang	25,000 -195,000	-195,000

Tags: Benjamin Hamnett Peng Yang

01-20-2024 21:16 UTC+2

Yurasov Calls Ercan With Ace-High

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David Salituro

Level 9 : Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante

Dmitry Yurasov bet 4,000 from early position on a flop of Q♥Q♠4♣ and Mustafa Ercan, who began the hand in contention for the chip lead, called in the big blind.

Both players checked the 6♣ turn and Ercan led out for 13,000 on the 6♦ river. Yurasov called and Ercan turned over K♠5♥ for just king-high.

Yurasov showed A♦10♠ and won the pot with ace-high.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mustafa Ercan	610,000 -10,000	-10,000
Dmitry Yurasov	460,000 10,000	10,000

Tags: Dmitry Yurasov Mustafa Ercan

01-20-2024 21:31 UTC+2

Lin Surrenders a Big Pot to Davenport, Takes Another From Wozniak

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David Salituro

Level 9 : Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante

With around 70,000 in the middle on a board of K♦10♦6♥9♦, Jianwei Lin bet 55,000 from the button before Matthew Davenport moved all in for 155,000 in the hijack.

Lin tanked for several minutes before giving up his hand as Davenport took the big pot.

A few hands later at this table, Mateusz Wozniak raised to 5,500 in early position, Giorgiy Skhulukhiya called in the hijack, and Lin three-bet to 18,000 in the cutoff.

Both opponents called and the flop came J♥Q♥5♥. Lin continued for 20,000 and only Wozniak called. Both players checked the 6♠ turn.

The river was the 5♦ and Lin bet 95,000 this time. Wozniak gave it some thought before folding as Lin dragged in the chips.

Player	Chips	Progress
Matthew Davenport	320,000 120,000	120,000
Jianwei Lin	270,000 95,000	95,000
Mateusz Wozniak	270,000 -50,000	-50,000
Giorgiy Skhulukhiya	80,000

Tags: Giorgiy Skhulukhiya Jianwei Lin Mateusz Wozniak Matthew Davenport

01-20-2024 21:47 UTC+2

Karam Dodges the River to Double

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David Salituro

Level 9 : Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante

Heads-up on a flop of 4♣9♠3♥, Frederico Senno bet 25,000 from middle position before Hala Karam raised to 75,000 in the hijack. Senno then moved all in and Karam called for 125,000.

Hala Karam: 3♦3♠
Frederico Senno: A♣K♣

"No," Karam cried out when the 7♣ fell on the turn as Senno picked up the nut flush draw. She stood up from her seat to await the river, which came the J♦ and earned her a late-night double up with her set.

Player	Chips	Progress
Hala Karam	260,000
Frederico Senno	260,000 -60,000	-60,000

Tags: Frederico Senno Hala Karam

01-20-2024 21:51 UTC+2

Hrabec Wakes Up the Tiger

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David Salituro

Level 9 : Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante

A massive pile of chips was being pushed toward Jianwei Lin after he earned a double up through Roman Hrabec.

With around 50,000 in the middle, Hrabec was in the small blind had put Lin all in after the flop and Lin called in middle position for his last 266,000 with 3♠3♥. Hrabec had A♠K♣ on a board of 6♠10♣4♣2♥ and needed help on the river.

The dealer turned over the 10♥ and Lin's pocket threes survived to earn him a double up that put him among the chip leaders near the end of the night.

"If I lose, I go again tomorrow," Lin said as he stacked up his new-found riches.

"Woke up the tiger," a tablemate said.